Book or music leaf turner.



No. 868,903- PATENTED OCT. 22, 1907. H. ALRIGH. BOOK 0R MUSIC LEAP TURNER.

APPLIOATIOI FILED AUG. 3, 1900. v

4 BHEETSSHEET 1,

W6 hi mus QCMMA S PATENTED OCT. 22. 1907.

H. ALRIGH.

BOOK 0R MUSIC LEAP TURNER.

nrmouxon FILED we 3 190a 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wihwaaeo I No. 868,903. PATENTED OCT. 22. 1907'. H. ALRIGH.

I BOOK 0R MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

urmouxon FILED AUG. 3, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 868,903. PATENTED OCT. 22. 1907.

H. ALRIGH.

BOOK OR MUSIC LEAP TURNER.

APPLICATION mun AUG. 3, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

,p@ 1 5.7- 77 S B Z wamm O a 'a m 3 MW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY \L11Cll, OF EL PASO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR- OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN STOOKMEYER, OF EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS.

BOOK OR MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, 1907.

Application filed August 3,1906. Serial No. 329,078.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, 11ENRY ALnIoH, a citizen of the United States, residing at El Paso, in the county of El Paso and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Book or Music Leaf Turner; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to a book or music leaf turner, and has for its object to provide, a simple, ellicient and durable device of this class, and one which may be readily attached to pianos and other musical instruments.

in the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred formv of the invention; it being however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the invention may be resorted to, when desired.

in the drawings :-.lfigure 1 is a front elevation of a music leaf turner, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view, of the sheetturning mechanism showing the parts thereof in their initial positions. Fig. 5 is a front view of a portion of Fig. -'1. Fig. 6 is transverse sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the same showing the parts 5 1 and 55 closed. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the sheet-turning arm. Fig. 9 is a section through the music support.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a detail view clearly illustrating the cooperation between the gears Fig. 1.2 is a detail view clearly illustrating the elements 21 to 27.

The frame, A, of the improved device is substantially of rectangular shape, and said frame may be constructed in any suitable and convenient manner of wood, metal, or any other appropriate material or combination of materials. Said frame includes an upright or bracket member, 1, extending from the bottom bar 2 thereof, and upon said upright is adjustably mounted a sleeve, 3, secured by means of a clamping screw, 4, and carrying a ledge or book-rest, 5, which may be secured upon the screw as by means of clamping nuts, 6. The ledge or book-rest is provided with guide-arms, 7, extending through slots, 8, in the back-board or desk, 9, thus permitting the book-rest to be vertically adjusted, to accommodate various sizes of books or music sheets.

The back-board is provided near the corners thereof with rearward extending guide pins or dowels, 9, which are guided through aperturcd brackets, 10, connected with the frame, thus permitting the backboard or desk to be moved forward and rearward to accommodate books of various thickness. Said backboard is also provided near the center thereof with a rearward extending rack, 11, engaged by a pinion, 12, upon a shaft, 13, the inner end of which is supported in the bracket 1 while the outer end of said shaft is journaled at the right hand end of the frame. The shaft 13 has a button, 14, whereby it may be conveniently turned; and it has a ratchet wheel, 15, engaged by a pawl, 16, pivoted upon the frame, whereby said shaft and the back-board or desk controlled thereby will be securely retained in position at various adjustments.

The top bar, 17, of the frame, which is of non-circular cross section, is supported by brackets, 18, extending forwardly from the end members of the frame; and the latter supports, in rear of said top bar, a shaft, 19, which is also, preferably, of non-circular cross section through the greater portion of its length; said shaft being, however, supported for rotation as will be readily seen.

Brackets, 18 and 20, at the left hand end of the frame support a pair of vertical guide bars, 21, having rearwardly offset portions, 22. These guide bars are connected near their upper ends by a stationary cross piece, 23, secured in position, adjustably, by means of screws, as 2 1. The guide bars 21 also support a pair of slidable cross pieces, 25, 2o, affording bearings for a vertical shaft, 27. (It will be understood that while the term vertical is resorted to for convenience of description, the device, when in actual use, occupies an inclined position, so that the actual operative position occupied by said shaft will be inclined to any desired degree.) The shaft 27 carries a, preferably re silient, leaf holding arm, 28, which is secured in position thereon, adjustably, by meansof a set-screw, 29, in order that it may be conveniently adjusted to books of various sizes, and in such a manner as to lie between the printed lines, so as not to obstruct the view; said arm may also advantageously be made of transparent material, if so desired.

The shaft 27 carries a cylindrical member, 30, which has been illustrated as having a conical lower extremity, constituting one of the bearings of the shaft. The cylinder 30 has a cam-groove, 31, engaged by a tooth or spur, 32, extending from one of the guide bars 21 whereby, when the shaft is moved in an upward direction by sliding the cross pieces in which it is journalcd upward upon the guide bars 21, the said shaft will be rotated to the extent of about one-fourth of a revolution, thus releasing the leaf holding arm from contact with the leaves of the book supported upon the desk. The rearwardly offset portions of the bars 21 prevent the latter from interfering with the operation of the leaf holding arm.

The cross-pieces or slides carrying the shaft 27 may be moved in an upward direction by means of a lever,

33, pivoted upon the brackets 20, and having'a finger piece, 34, at its front end, the rear end of said lever being extended beneath the lower cross-piece, 26. When pressure upon the lever ceases, the parts are restored to normal position by means of a spring, 35, interposed between the upper slidable cross-piece 26 and the crosspiece 23; the tension of said spring being regulable by adjustment of the cross-piece 23.

Connected with the upper slidable cross-piece 25,

and guided through the stationary cross-piece 23 is a raek,bar, 36, engaging a pinion, 37, upon the shaft 19, I which latter will thus be rotated, to any desired extent,

which is governed by the size of the pinion and the extentofthe movement of the rack bar.

top bar 17 of the frame carries, near its right hand end, a bracket, 38, securedadjustably thereupon by means of a set screw, 39, and said bracket has a forand 45, upon the former of which is pivoted a segmental arm, The spoke carries a rigid segmental arm,

47, of less extent than the arm 46, the arm 47 being connected with the extremity of the spoke 44 by a brace bar, 48, whereby the parts are strengthened and reinforced. The arm 47 is provided with a cam-shaped track, 49, extending from thebar 48 in the direction of the inner end of the pivoted arm 46; and the outer end of said pivoted arm,-whereby is meant the end or extremity nearest the edge of the frame A, carries a screw, 50, provided with clamp nut, 51, whereby it may be secured in position at various adjustments, and having at its rear end a cup-shaped or otherwise suitably constructed leaf engaging member, 52, which is preferably constructed of india-rubber, or a composition containing rubber, to the end that it will frictionally engage the surface of a leaf that is to be turned, so as to start such leaf, and cause it to bulge outward at its upper edge to a position where it may be engaged conveniently, efiicientlyand with certainty by the turning arm or member which will be presentlydescribed.

' One of the bearing members or boxes 41 carries a raarm, 53, extending between the arms 46 and 47, and carrying a member which I will designate the spreader, S, and which comprises two hingedly connected arms or parts, 54 and 55, provided at their terminal ends with small wheels or anti-friction members, 56, engaging the tracks formed by opposing sides or faces of the arms 46 and 47, including the cam-shaped track The member 54 is pivoted upon the arm 53, and it extends in the direction of the pivoted arm 46 carrying the leaf starting member; the member 55 which hingedly connected with the member 54, extends in the direction of the arm 47 having the cam 49, so as to be engaged by the latter when the shaft 42 is rotated the parts 54 and 55 are provided with abutting surfaces 54f and 55; a spring, 57, serves to hold the parts 54 55 normally in open relation, which spring sir red i to t e e b It will be seen, that when the shaft 42 is partly rotated from right to left, by the mechanism provided for the purpose, the arms 46 and 47 will move through the arc of a'circle and the cam portion or track encountering the part 55 of the spreader will turn the latter partly upon its fulrcum, causing the roller at the extremity of the part 54 to engage and press against the inner end 46 of the pivoted arm 46, thus causing the outer end 46 of said arm, carrying the leaf starting member, to be forced, or swung, in a rearward direction, so that said leaf starting member will press and push against the subjacent leaf of a music book or othervolume supported upon the desk, with an action closely resembling that of a human finger, and with the obvious result of bulging the upper edge of the top-most leaf in an outward direction. .When the parts" start to move in a reverse direction, towards the initial or normal position, the parts of the spreader will buckle together against the tension of the spring 57, thus preventing the spreader from obstructing the return movement of the arms 46 and 47, and permitting the arm 46 so to swing as to release the leaf starting member from operative engagement with the leaf.

The top 17 of the frame carries an additional bracket, 58, secured adjustably thereupon by means of a set-screw, 59. The brackets 58 and 38, it will be noted, afford auxiliary bearings for the shaft 19, which extends there through. The bracket 58 has a bearing for a shaft, 60, carrying at its rear end a bevel pinion, 61, meshing with a bevel pinion, 62, upon the shaft 19, from which latter motion of any desired extent, may be imparted to the shaft 60, the extent of the motion being governed by the relative sizes of the pinions. The shaft 60 carries near its front end a curved leaf turning arm, 63, preferably provided with an extension slide, 64, carrying at its outer extremity a spherical or other suitably shaped leaf engaging member, 65, of wood, glass, ivory, or other suitable material,smoothly polished, so as to be capable of turning leaves without injury thereto, the member being journaled for rotation at the outer extremity of the arm or extension member. The leaf turning arm is adapted to engage behind the bulging portion of the upper edge of a leaf started by the starting member, and complete the turning of such leaf, as will be readily understood,

The leaf turning arm is preferably provided with a hexagonal or other polygonal shaped eye, 66, engaging a correspondingly shaped boss, 67, at the forward end of the shaft 60, upon which it is secured by a set screw or clamping screw, 68, in such a manner that it may be extended at an angle from the shaft that shall place it in convenient position with relation to thebook thatis to be operated upon.

The book rest or supporting ledge 5 is preferably pro vided, near its right hand end, with a small spring actuated arm 69, having a terminal leaf engaging roller, 70, adapted to engage the lower right hand corners of the leaves lightly, to hold them properly in-position, for operation.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood.

The device is adapted to be used in connection with music stands of any kind, with the desks or music racks of pianos or organs and similar instruments, or with supporting means 01' any kind, upon which it will be mounted for operation in any convenient iii-antler; the exact manner of supporting the device being varied ac cording to circumstances. In place of striking the operating lever 33 with a linger, said lever may, it de sired, be suitably connected with and operated by a foot treadle, within the scope of the invention; such toot lever or treadle being conventionally indicated in the drawing, at 7]., together with a link or connecting rod, 72. When the lever 33 is actuated, it elevates the shatt .5, which is partly rotated so as to raise the lead holder 28 iroin the leaves at the left hand side oi the book. the rack 36 is elevated, en gaging the pinion 37 so as to partially rotate the shaft 19, whereby the leaf starting and leaf turning members are actuated, as previously described. When the lever 33 is relieved ironi pressure, the parts are restored to normal position by the action of the spring 35.

The several parts oi the improved device are capable oi being expeditiously and effectively adjusted to various positions, to enable books of dilierent bulk and (ii various dimensions to be operated upon. The general construction is simple, and not liable to get out of order, and the device is thoroughly reliable in operation, and enables the perlormer to turn the music leaves quickly, and with a minimum of eil'ort.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent oi the United States:

1.. in a device ot the class described, a [mine having guide bars. a cross piece iitljustzibly secured upon snid guide bars, cross pieces mounted to slide upon the lzittcr. :i rotlvshul't supported in the sliding cross pieces and hav in a lent holding arm, a lever supported to one: e one of the sliding cro, pieces, a spring interposed between the other sliding cross piece and the stationary cross piece. a rack connected with one oi the sliding cro pieces and guided through the stationary cross piece. and a rockshal't supported in the frame and having a pinion 011g; d by the rack, a lezilf starting device adapted to be operated through the medium 01 the last named rock shaft.

2. In :1 device of the t described, a liillllt), members slidzibly connected therewith, a rock-shaft, supported in the slidiible members for longitudinal movement, a lexit holding arm upon the rock-sluitt, a rock-shalt supported in the t'rame at an angle to the movable rock 'hat't, means connected with the slidable roclcslmt't supporting members for imparting oscillatory movement to the roclcshal't sup ported in the frame. and lent-starting and leaf-turning members actuated by the bitter lust-named I'tiClC' lHIYL *ibed, a pivoted member At the same time,

I. In :i dcvice ot the class dos.

supported tor oscillator movement, a screw-threaded rod extending through one end 01. said member, chinipiue' nuts upon said rod, and a frictional leat' one: gin; member carried by the latter.

--t. In a device of the class described, a hook support, a bracket. adjustable thereon. a rock-shalt supported in bearings in said bracket and having spokes. an arm pivoted upon one of the spokes and having a lea t engaging member. till :irm secured upon the other spoke and bovine :i cam track, and a spreader connected with the bearing oi the roclcshult and extendingbetween the pivoted and staililiS. I

in a device of the class described, a book support, a bracket adjustable thereon. a rocloslnilft supported in l)l1l'- ings in said bracket and having spokes, an arm pivote'l upon one of the spokes and havinga leat engaging memher. an arm secured upon the other spoke and having; a canntruck, :in arm extending from the bearing of the rockshaft, and a spreader pivoted upon said arm Hid including two hingedly connected members and a spring normally holding;- said members in open relation.

U. In :i device of the class described, a lead starting; de vice including a pair ot' arms supported tor oscillation, one of aid arms being pivoted and provided with a leaf engaging member and the other arm having a cam-track, and :i pivoted spreader supported between the arms and adapted to be actuated by the cam-track ol' one arm to turn the other arm upon i pivot.

T. in a device of the class described, it i'rziine, an adjustable bracket, :1 roclvshzil't supported by the bracket, :1 leaf turning iii-m adjust-ably connected with the rock-shaft: and having an extension slide, and :i teat ou in: member connected with the latter for rotation.

S. A device of the CltlSS described, including :1 book sup port, a longitudinally movable rock-shuft having a leatholding, arm, a longitudinally movable rack operatively connected with the roclcsliat't, lever means tor moving;- the rock-sh.-il't and the rack in one direction, spring menus for restoring the roclcshtift tind the rack to initial position, a rock-shat't having a pinion t)ligil"ili" the rack, adjiistably supported brackets al't'ordiug a bcariue's tor the latter roclcshatt, a lea ll'iiilg device supported by one of the brackets, 11 leal' turning arm supported by the other bracket, and means for actuating the teatstarting and turning devices by the oscillation ot' the roclcshal'is.

In :i. lent turning device, tin oscillatory starting dehaving a pair or arms, one of said arms being pivoted and provided with a lcalf'eng ing member, and the other arm having a cam, and a movable spreader disposed be tween the arms and adapted to be actuated by the cum to turn the other tirm upon its pivot.

10. in a leaf turning device. a leaf starting device supported for oscillation tiiid provided with :i lent engue'ing member and an actuating cam track, and {I piv ted spreader disposed for coiiperiition with the leat' on in; member and the cam truck.

1]. in a leaf turning device, a pair 01 parallel slitit'ts :i bracket adjustable thereon. ii rock l projecting at; i it angles thereto, a bearing thei'etor, a pair ol radiating members movable with the shalt, one oi the members havin;- a cam. while the other is provided with a leal en; :i ;iin member, a member radii ig 'l'roni the bearing of the shaft, and a spreader carried thereby.

12. in it leal' turning device. a leal starting device sup ported for oscillation and provided with :1 lezil" en" member and an actuating cam track, and ii spreader disposed for cooperation with the lent en; member and the cam truck, and means tfcr operating said leaf starting device.

13. in a device of the class described, a frame having ,auide bars :1. cross piece adjustubly secured upon said guide burs cross piec mounted to slide upon the said guide bars, a roclcsha supported in the sliding; cross pieces and having a l nt holding arm. a lever supported to cue-ace one ot' the sliding cr pieces a spring interposed between the other sliding cross pic 1 and the :id- ,iustuble cr s piece, :i ruck connected with one ot the sliding cross piec sbnd guided through the stationary cross piece. zi rocl shalt supported on the lfrzimc and liItY in;- a pinion engaged by the rack, :i leat' starting device adapted to be operated through the medium otf said rock sliiitt', said leaf starting device being supported l'or oscill:i tion and provided with a leaf on in: member and :in actuating cam truck, and a pivoted spreader disposed for cooperation with the ieait' engaging member and the cam track.

in t tilllfil'ly whereot' i have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRI .iLltlCll.

Witnesses W. C. McGowN, I. ll. Mclv'ixxnnn. 

